The Indiana Publisher

Indiana The Volume 77, Issue 4 • February 16, 2012 See you at the Annual Meetings The Annual Meetings and Government Conference taking place Thursday-Friday, Feb. 16-17 brings together newspa- per leaders and legislators to the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown. Publishers and other news- paper management employ- ees who have registered to attend can visit www.HSPAFoundation.org/ annualmeetings for directions, schedules and other informa- tion. Speakers will offer informa- tion on the Indiana General Assembly, libel, revenue and postal issues affecting newspa- pers. One attendee will win an iPad 2 during an idea-sharing session. For questions about hotel reservations or other infor- mation, contact HSPA at (317) 803-4772 or sgoldsby@ hspa.com or visit www. HSPAFoundation.org/ annualmeetings. Justin Rumbach, managing editor of The Herald (Jasper), left, conducts an interview at the job fair. Rumbach was hoping to find a general assignment reporter. Students want to hear 'You're hired!' Nearly 120 job- and internship- seekers registered for the annual Journalism Job and Career Fair, organized by HSPA Foundation and the Indiana Associated Press Managing Editors. About 30 edi- tors interviewed the hopefuls dur- ing this year's event Feb. 4 at Ball State University. Publisher Published alternate Thursdays Senate takes issue with bills Two proposed pieces of leg- islation that would add some teeth to the state's public access laws hit a speed bump and a brick wall, respectively, in the Senate. While S.B. 92 was up for debate on the floor, Sen. Tim Lanane, D-Ander son, ques- tioned whether it would impact senators' ability to protect the privacy of constituent mail. Sen. Brandt Hershman, R-Buck Creek, raised the same concern. Even though S.B. 92 does nothing to change the sta- tus of legislative records, the bill's author, Sen. Bev Gard, R-Greenfield, was unable to dispel the concern raised. With the legislation at risk Left: Max Jones, editor of the Tribune-Star (Terre Haute) was the luncheon keynote speaker. Students and editors were treated to free pizza and door prizes. Promote webinar to teachers Teachers can discover cre- ative opportunities for using newspapers in the classroom through a free webinar. "Newspapers: A Class Act!" is a Newspaper in Education Initiative that offers teachers a half-point of credit toward their professional growth plans. Newspapers are encouraged to use the information they received by email to post a webinar flier and/or registra- tion link on their websites and email and/or publish informa- tion for their area teachers. Instead of the tabloid or web material HSPA Foundation presented in previous years for NIE Week, the Indiana Newspaper in Education Advisory Board and other See Webinar, Page 3 Newspapers: A Class Act! What: Free webinar for teach- ers about using newspapers in the classroom When: Tuesday, Feb. 28 Credit: Teachers earn ½ point for their professional growth plan. How papers can promote it: Visit www.HSPAFoundation.org and download materials. Friends of Ernie Pyle re- name historic site: The Ernie Pyle World War II Mu- seum will focus on the legacy of the legendary correspon- dent and the era in which he lived. Page 2 INSIDE Information released: The Indiana public ac- cess counselor rules in favor of the South Bend Tribune on an issue regarding school board documents. Page 3 Meet the legisla- tive interns: Three students are working with HSPA during this session of the General Assembly. Page 4 Attendees at the job fair select door prizes after the pizza lunch. Editors who interviewed stu- dents brought coffee mugs, bags and other items decorated with their news- papers' logos to give away. Scarlett Syse, editor of the Daily Journal (Franklin), right, looks over a stu- dent's portfolio during an interview. of being defeated, President pro tem David Long, R-Fort Wayne, quietly suggested Gard withdraw the bill from debate for a day. Long's move was key because if the Senate defeated S.B. 92, it would have also then refused to hear its sister bill, H.B. 1093, which has passed the House. That would have killed the HSPA-led effort to pass legisla- tion that would allow a judge to levy a civil fine against pub- lic officials who deliberately violate the Open Door Law or Access to Public Records Act. The unease raised by Lanane's question and dead- line for passage of bills in their chamber of origin led Senate leadership to decide to let S.B. 92 die and use H.B. 1093 as a vehicle to address the privacy concern. Based on the comments of Lanane and Hershman, HSPA suggested language that would specify that constituent corre- spondence would be confiden- tial at the discretion of legisla- tors. The four caucuses a few years ago took the position that such correspondence was pro- tected by the First Amendment right to petition government and the privacy of those writ- ing should be protected. Legislators have recounted See Bills, Page 4

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